“Towards a Resilient Nation: Prioritizing Ecology and Security”

To,

Shri Narendra Modiji

Honourable Prime Minister of India

Respected Sir,

I extend my heartfelt gratitude for your visionary leadership and tireless dedication to the nation. As we approach the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, I offer some humble suggestions and feedback aimed at the betterment of our beloved nation. I am deeply appreciative of your continued commitment to guiding India towards a prosperous future, and I pray for your long-lasting health and success in leading our nation forward.

However, it grieves me to observe that none of the political parties across India seem to prioritize crucial matters such as ecological preservation, environmental sustainability, and national security. These issues demand urgent attention for the welfare and safeguarding of our nation and its citizens. Therefore, I present the following suggestions for your esteemed consideration:

1. The 1600 kms plus international border between India and Myanmar in the NE India is according to my mind the soft belly of India. It is vulnerable to future planned military attacks by China or to China sponsored anti-India infiltration or insurgency in the highly sensitive region. It is one of the highest points of human trafficking, wildlife and wildlife body parts trafficking, illegal arms and ammunition and drug trafficking, hotbed of insurgency, rampant illegal immigration and infiltration to and from India. The sensitive Indo-Myanmar border areas are simply unguarded and unprotected; and susceptible to antisocial and antinational activities. The Government of India (GOI) needs to take urgent measures to protect the border, increase monitoring and surveillance at multiple levels to ensure security and safety and establish the rule of  the law. It is extremely important to increase the ground activity of customs and immigration departments here; as well as increase highly coordinated intelligence network to improve and enhance the security of the region.

2. Three illegal wildlife trafficking corridors are operating in India and needs immediate attention of the GOI, namely the Siliguri corridor (West Bengal), the Indo-Myanmar illegal border cross points (Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram) and the Indo- Bangladesh illegal border cross points (West Bangal, Assam, Tripura and Mizoram). The other important wildlife trafficking area is the numerous creeks and channels of the Sunderban mangrove forest areas between India (West Bengal) and neighbouring Bangladesh. All these above flash point areas are also vulnerable to extensive smuggling of contraband commodities, drugs, weapons, fake currencies and rampant human trafficking particularly women and children. The GOI needs to take numerous bold steps to secure these fringe areas both for forest and biodiversity conservation as well as for the purpose of national security.

3. Honey bees, wild bees and other biological (natural) pollinators are showing alarming decline around the planet, India is not immune to these challenges. It is therefore important to establish numerous small, medium and large Pollinator Sanctuaries and Bee Gardens across the nation in both agricultural areas and non- agronomically suitable areas, forests, fringe forest areas, unused spaces in rural and urban localities, social forest areas, along and adjacent to different water bodies (irrigation canals, ponds, swamps, ditches, pools, lakes, bogs, streams, waterfalls, rivers, rivulets, tributaries and distributaries).

4. Establishing a modern para military Forest Protection Force in the line of CISF for the purpose of protection of the vast unprotected areas of Indian forests from hunters and poachers, infiltrators, land sharks, illegal immigrants and refugees,  insurgents, terrorists and anti social elements taking refuge in our forests with special emphasis to sensitive inter state boundaries and international borders. It will contribute both to successful biodiversity conservation and our national security. Better salary and insurance packages for forest guards.

5. Need for various national agencies to work together on a common platform for collecting ground data, collecting specimens and samples, conducting joint surveys, preparing resource and political maps,  sharing and gathering intelligence, inputs, suggestions and feedbacks from one another. These include State and Central security and intelligence agencies, Forest, Environment, Health and Rural Development departments, Zoological Survey of India, Botanical Survey of India, Geological Survey of India, Anthropological Survey of India, Archaeological Survey of India etc for better, high quality and comprehensive data, various maps, specimens, samples, photo and video documentations as well as creation of national databases on our current available natural bioresources. There is need for coordination, cooperation, collaboration and communication (4Cs) between these important organizations.

6. Need for documenting money frauds and various financial scams happening across the country and book those involved under the law and punish them for their economic crimes.

7. Strengthening the existing environmental legislations of the country by amending them according to the present circumstantial needs.

8. Continue working and investing on the infrastructure of the nation for future economic growth.

9. Establishing Universal Health Care for the entire nation across all States and Union Territories.

10. Continuing the work on education, awareness and sensitivity about local, regional and global ecological and environmental issues among students belonging to primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education as well as for the general public.

11. Opportunity of school education for all.

12.  Funding and developing shelters, accommodation and residence for homeless and land less people, marginal labourers, rural and urban poor (below poverty levels), legal immigrants and refugees, destitute, beggars, bats and other underprivileged section if our society.

13. Strict rules and penalty for railway drivers traveling above the prescribed speed limits in forested areas and responsible for animal deaths due to railway collisions.

14. Work towards reducing human-animal conflicts in vulnerable areas through application of 4C principals between Central and State agencies, Inter- and Intra- State agencies and governments as well as between Indian and neighbouring country governments for joint monitoring and surveillance of forest areas along international borders.

15. Establishing Joint Forest Management, Security, Conservation and Protection between India, Pakistan, China, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Maldives where applicable.

Thanking you

Sincerely yours

SAIKAT KUMAR BASU

378, Prince Anwar Shah Road

Kolkata 700045 West Bengal

Mobile: 8697491914

WhatsApp: 8697491914

Email: saikat.basu@alumni.uleth.ca